Preparing for a family can be one of the scariest and most rewarding periods of anyone's life. Once you've found the person that you want to start a family with, and the two of you have made the decision to build a life and a future together, you may be tempted to jump right in at the deep end.

There's nothing wrong with that, but for some, forward planning is the key to ensuring they are relaxed and ready for all of the new challenges - and joys - that face them.

Whether you're pregnant, you've started trying for a family or you've started thinking about making a family, it's never too early to get your preparations rolling.

Your Living Space

One of the first things that people need to consider is the amount of space they have and the suitability of their homes. The perfect flat for a professional couple may not be so ideal for a couple with a young child.

You might need to start thinking about moving somewhere with enough space for a nursery or you may merely have to start thinking about ways to kid-proof your existing home. These are changes that can take a fair amount of time to implement, so don't put off thinking about them. Some people also like to consider the area they are living in and how it could impact the educational prospects of their children from a very early stage.

Your Health and Wellness

When you're busy preparing for a new addition you'll probably also want to think about things that affect your health and that of those close to you. For example, your diet and drinking habits are likely to have a direct impact on your children - right from conception through to their adulthood. Make sure you've spent some time making sure you're able to look after yourself as well as your loved ones. Along the same lines, you should try to stop detrimental habits, like smoking, when you're getting ready to start a family.

Your Financial Peace

Another crucial thing to think about when preparing for a family is that the way it will affect your finances. Obviously new additions to the family can be expensive, but make sure you take your future loss of earnings - or money spent on childcare - into account too.

Then there is of course life insurance. It's the kind of thing some people don't even consider until they begin thinking about starting a family, but an idea that tends to come to the forefront once dependants are involved.

Related Article: 4 Tips That Provide a Healthy Home for Your Baby